JP2520899B2 - Optical connector switching device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical connector switching device.

[Prior art and its problems]

Recently, a method of switching a part of the optical communication line from a working line to a switching line of another route has been studied, but this line switching is performed by switching an optical connector. That is, at the connection point of the working line optical connector, after disconnecting the connection between the first optical connector and the second optical connector connecting the working line, to the first optical connector (one that remains after switching), This is done by connecting a third optical connector attached to the end of the switching line.

By the way, a normal optical connector is one in which the optical fiber is fixed so that the end surface of the optical fiber is exposed at a predetermined position (the center position in the case of a single core) of the end surface. It is designed to be connected to. Since the centers of both optical fibers must be exactly aligned when connecting, the optical connector has pin fitting holes formed in parallel on both sides of the optical fiber. The optical connectors are aligned with each other by inserting the pins so as to extend over the corresponding pin fitting holes.

Since the optical connector has such a structure, if the switching work of disconnecting the connected optical connectors from each other and connecting another optical connector to one of them is performed manually, it takes several seconds or more for one switching. However, communication is interrupted during that time. At present, it is desired to shorten the communication interruption time associated with this switching as much as possible.

Also, after switching, there is a problem with the transmission of the switching line (break,
If a loss (such as increased loss) or a defect in the optical connector (misfitting, increased connection loss, etc.) occurs, or if you try to switch at two points at the same time but only switch at one point, the transmission system will fail. Therefore, in order to suppress the influence as much as possible, it is also required to immediately restore the switching (return to the state before the switching) when the failure is discovered. Explaining this with reference to FIG. 5, 11A and 11B are the optical fiber core wires currently in use.
Optical connectors attached to the ends of 12A and 12B, 11C is an optical connector attached to the end of the switching optical fiber core wire 12C, and the first and second optical connectors as shown in (a).
When switching from the state in which 11A and 11B are connected to the first and third optical connectors 11A and 11C, it is found that there is a fault 13 in the switching optical fiber core wire 12C as shown in (b) after switching. At that time, it is required to restore the connection state of the first and second optical connectors 11A and 11B as shown in (c).

[Means for solving problems and their actions]

The present invention provides an optical connector switching device that solves the above technical problems, and has a configuration in which a first optical connector that remains after switching and a second optical connector that is removed by switching are provided. Light for switching from the state of being aligned and connected by the pin to the state of disconnecting the connection and connecting the first optical connector and the third optical connector for switching to the state of being aligned and connected by the pin In the connector switching device, a first table for setting the first optical connector,
A second table for setting the second and third optical connectors in parallel, and one of the first table and the second table moves in the direction in which the second and third optical connectors are arranged. The movable table has a fixed table that does not move in the other direction, and a drive mechanism that reciprocates the movable table by the central axis distances of the second and third optical connectors, and the first and second tables. A pin pushing mechanism capable of pushing a pin from one of the facing optical connectors to the other and from the other to the one at a position where the optical connectors face each other and a position where the first and third optical connectors face each other. It is characterized by having.

When switching the optical connectors with this device, set the first and second optical connectors in the connected state across the first and second bases, and set the third optical connector to the second base. After being set in parallel with the second optical connector, the pins in the second optical connector are pushed into the first optical connector, the movable table is moved, and the first and third optical connectors are opposed to each other,
The pins pushed into the first optical connector may be pushed back into the third optical connector. If an abnormality is found after the switching, the operation opposite to the above can be performed to restore the state in which the first and second optical connectors are connected.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the optical connector switching device according to the present invention.

In the figure, 11A is a first optical connector, 11B is a second optical connector, and 11C is a third optical connector. The first and second optical connectors 11A and 11B are attached to the ends of the optical fiber core wires 12A and 12B of the working line, respectively, and the central axes are made to coincide with each other by the pins 14 penetrating both sides. Butt connected. Also the third optical connector
11C is attached to the end of the optical fiber core wire 12C of the switching line. This device consists of the first and second optical connectors 11A ・ 1
It is designed to disconnect the connection of 1B and switch to the connection of the first and third optical connectors 11A and 11C, and to restore the state before switching if an abnormality is found after switching. .

21 is a fixed base for setting the first optical connector 11A in a fixed position, 22 is a second optical connector 11B and a third optical connector 1
It is a movable table that sets 1C in a fixed position. In this device,
The third optical connector 11C is right next to the second optical connector 11B,
The second optical connector 11B and the end face are aligned and set.
The movable table 22 is movable along a guide rail 23 installed below the movable table 22 in the alignment direction (lateral direction) of the second and third optical connectors 11B and 11C. The movable base 22 is moved by the actuators 24 and 25, and the movement distance is set to the stoppers 46 and 47.
Regulated by

26A is a pair of pin push rods for pushing the pin 14 from the rear of the first optical connector 11A, 27 is a movable block that holds the pin push rod 26A, 28 is a guide that guides the movable block 27 in the axial direction of the pin 14. Rail, 29 is rack 30 and pinion 31
Is a motor for moving the movable block 27 forward and backward by the meshing of.

Further, 26B is a pair of pin push rods for pushing the pin 14 from the rear of the second optical connector 11B, 32 is a slider for holding the pin push rod 26B, 33 is the slider 32 on the movable table 22, and the slider 32 is in the axial direction of the pin 14. A guide frame for guiding the slider 34, a rod for pushing the slider 32, a movable block 35 for holding the rod 34,
Reference numeral 36 is a guide rail for guiding the movable block 35 in the axial direction of the pin 14, and 37 is a motor for moving the movable block 35 forward and backward by the engagement of the rack 38 and the pinion 39.

The rear side of the third optical connector 11C has a similar structure. That is, 26C is a pin push rod for pushing a pin (empty in the illustrated state) from the rear of the second optical connector 11C, 40 is a slider for holding the pin push rod 26C, 41 is a guide frame for guiding the slider 40, 42 Is a rod that pushes the slider 40, 43 is a movable block that holds the rod 42, 44 is a movable block 43
Reference numeral 45 is a motor for guiding the movable block 43 forward and backward by the engagement of the rack and the pinion.

The guide rails 36 and 44 of the movable blocks 35 and 43 are separate from the movable table 22 as shown in the figure, and are fixed at fixed positions behind the movable table 22.

Next, a method of switching the optical connector by this device will be described.

In the illustrated state, the first and second optical connectors 11A and 11B are in a connected state, and the third optical connector 11C is set right next to the second optical connector 11B. From this state, the motors 37 and 45 are simultaneously driven to move the movable blocks 35 and 43 forward, and the pin push rod 26B is used to move the second optical connector 11B.
All the pins (14) therein are pushed out to the first optical connector (11A) side, and the pin push rod (26C) is inserted into the pin fitting hole of the third optical connector (11C). When the tip of the pin push rod 26B / 26C reaches the end face position of both connectors 11B / 11C, the motor 37/45
Is stopped, and then the actuator 25 is operated to move the movable table 22 to a position where the third optical connector 11C faces the first optical connector 11A (until it abuts on the stopper 46). After that, the motor 29 is driven and the pin push rod 26A is moved forward to push back the pin 14 that has been moved to the first optical connector 11A side to the third optical connector 11C by half the entire length. With this, the first and third optical connectors 11A and 11C are connected, and the switching is completed.

Next, a case will be described in which some abnormality occurs after switching and the original connection state is restored. First, the motor 37 is driven to push all the pins 14 in the third optical connector 11C to the first optical connector 11A side by the pin push rod 26C, and then the actuator 24 is operated to return the movable table 22 to the original position ( Return it until it hits the stopper 47), then drive the motor 29 to move the pin push rod 26A forward, and push the pin 14 that has been moved toward the first optical connector 11A side to the second optical connector 11B by half the entire length. If it returns, the recovery is completed.

3 and 4 show another embodiment of the present invention. The major difference of this device from the device of the above-mentioned embodiment is that the table for setting the first optical connector 11A is the movable table 22, and the table for setting the second and third optical connectors 11B and 11C is the fixed table.
That's 21.

Reference numeral 23 is a guide rail for laterally guiding the movable base 22, 51 is a motor for laterally moving the movable base 22 by engagement of a rack 52 and a pinion 53 formed on the lower surface of the movable base 22 (see FIG. 4), 46 and 47. Is a stopper that determines the stop position of the movable table 22.

26A is a pair of pin push rods for pushing the pin 14 from the rear of the first optical connector 11A, 54 is a slider holding the pin push rod 26A, 55 is the slider 54 on the movable base 22 in the axial direction of the pin 14. A guide frame for guiding, 27 a movable block for pushing the slider 54, 28 a guide rail for guiding the movable block 27 in the axial direction of the pin 14, 29 a rack 30 and a pinion
A motor for moving the movable block 27 forward and backward by meshing 31.

Also, 56 is the first optical connector 11A is the third optical connector 11C
Is a movable block for pushing the slider 54 on the movable base 22 when it comes to a position facing the
A guide rail for guiding the movable block 56 in the axial direction and a motor 58 for moving the movable block 56 forward and backward by the engagement of the rack and the pinion.

The guide rails 28 and 57 of the movable blocks 27 and 56 are separate from the movable table 22 as shown in the figure, and are fixed at fixed positions behind the movable table 22.

Next, 26B is a pair of pin push rods for pushing the pin 14 from the rear of the second optical connector 11B, 35 is a movable block that holds the pin push rod 26B, and 36 is a guide for the movable block 35 in the axial direction of the pin 14. A guide rail 37 is a motor for moving the movable block 35 forward and backward by the engagement of the rack 38 and the pinion 39.

The rear of the third optical connector 11C has a similar structure. That is, 26C is a pin push rod for pushing a pin (empty in the illustrated state) from the rear of the second optical connector 11C, 43 is a movable block that holds the pin push rod 26C, and 44 is a guide rail that guides the movable block 43. , 45 are motors that move the movable block 43 forward and backward by meshing the rack and pinion.

 The operation of this device is as follows.

In the illustrated state, the first and second optical connectors 11A and 11B are in a connected state, and the third optical connector 11C is set right next to the second optical connector 11B. From this state, the motor 37 is driven to move the movable block 35 forward, and all the pins 14 in the second optical connector 11B are pushed out to the first optical connector 11A side by the pin push rod 26B. Pin push rod 26B
The motor 37 is stopped when the tip of the second optical connector 11B reaches the position of the end face of the second optical connector 11B, and then the motor 51 is operated,
The movable table 22 has a third optical connector 11C and a first optical connector 11A.
To a position facing (to hit the stopper 47). Then, drive the motor 58 and push the pin push rod 26A.
And pushes back the pin 14 that has been moved to the first optical connector 11A side to the third optical connector 11C by half the entire length. With this, the first and third optical connectors 11A and 11C are connected, and the switching is completed.

To restore the original connection state after switching, first drive the motor 45 to push out all the pins 14 in the third optical connector 11C to the first optical connector 11A side by the pin push rod 26C, and then to the motor. Operate 51 to return the movable base 22 to its original position (until it hits the stopper 46), and then move the motor.
The recovery is completed by driving 29 to move the pin push rod 26A forward and push back the pin 14 that has been moved toward the first optical connector 11A side to the second optical connector 11B by half the entire length.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the fixed base 21 has a structure that does not move at all, but if a means for slightly moving the fixed base 21 only in the axial direction of the optical connector is provided, the optical connector on the movable base is moved laterally. At this time, a gap can be provided between the end faces of the optical connectors facing each other, and the occurrence of scratches on the end faces of the optical connector can be prevented.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the first and second optical connectors are set over the movable table and the fixed table while being connected, and the third optical connector for switching is set. Since it was set to be in parallel with the second optical connector before switching,
There is no waste in movement, and it is possible to switch the optical connector in a very short time. In addition, at the position where the first and second optical connectors face each other and the position where the first and third optical connectors face each other, the pins can be pushed from either side of the facing optical connectors, so that no matter what happens after switching. When such a problem occurs, the original connection state can be immediately restored.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 are a plan view and a sectional view showing an embodiment of the optical connector switching device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are other embodiments of the optical connector switching device according to the present invention. The plan view and the cross-sectional view shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C are explanatory views of the switching of the optical connector and the subsequent recovery work. 11A ... first optical connector, 11B ... second optical connector,
11C …… Third optical connector, 14 …… Pin, 21 …… Fixed base, 22 …… Movable base, 23 …… Guide rail, 24 ・ 25 …… Actuator, 26A ・ 26B ・ 26C …… Pin push rod.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mikio Koporu 6 Yawata Kaigan Dori, Ichihara City Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Chiba Cable Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-63-218907 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first optical connector, which remains after switching, and a second optical connector, which is removed by switching, are connected by being aligned by pins, and the connection is released to release the first optical connector. An optical connector switching device for switching an optical connector and a switching third optical connector to a state in which they are aligned by the pins and connected to each other, in which a first base for setting a first optical connector, a second and A second table for setting a third optical connector in parallel, and one of the first table and the second table is a movable table that moves in the direction in which the second and third optical connectors are arranged. , The other is a fixed base that does not move in that direction, and a drive mechanism that reciprocates the movable base by the central axis distances of the second and third optical connectors, and the first and second optical connectors. Position and the first and At a position where third optical connector is opposed,
An optical connector switching device comprising: a pin pushing mechanism capable of pushing a pin from either one of the opposing optical connectors to the other or from the other to the one. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pin pushing mechanism on the movable table side is separated from the pin pushing rod and the mechanism for moving the pin pushing rod, and the former is the movable platform. Above, the latter is characterized by being installed in a fixed position behind the movable table.